UP THE TRAIL 1A & 1B

Cover by Lin Li H Siang

Original Story from real life cowboy Andy Adams' 1903 Bestseller Log of a Cowboy in the public domain
Adaptation by James A. Bretney

Art by Jack Tzekov

Art by Andrea Montano

If you like this story, please like us on facebook.
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Movie Review: Grand Budapest Hotel

I saw a bunch of movies over my plane ride to Ukraine:

Compliments

1) If you like Wes Anderson, it is not his best, but it is still pretty good.

2) Cast is AMAZING!!!
3) Art Direction - THE BEST
4) Ralph Fiennes's performance

Needs Improvement

1) Under-Utilized characters (see cast)

2) chase movies kind of annoying after a while

3) miscast the two younger characters (weak)

4) Wes Anderson places obscene material into his movies.  It is supposed to be a clever ploy at humor i.e. replacing the portrait of boy with apple.  But instead it is disruptive and makes us question his judgment.

I still enjoyed it and recommend it.

Its not for kids which is sad because two child actors are in it.

What is your favorite Ralph Fiennes movie?

I recommend The SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN Season Six for kids

SKU: C72513021270201011

Rating: Teen +

MAIN COVER - ALEX ROSS

KEN HAESER

Writer: James Kuhoric

Art: Juan Antonio Ramirez

Genre: Media Tie-In, Action Adventure

Publication Date: Mar 2014

Format: Comic Book

Page Count: 32 pages

It's The Six Millions Dollar Man's 40th anniversary, and we at Dynamite are proud to bring you the direct continuation of the classic television series with Season 6! Better. Stronger. Faster. The original Six Million Dollar Man, Steve Austin was a man barely alive until the OSI turned him into the world's first Bionic Man. Now he and Oscar Goldman are the most effective team in National Security. But a rogue faction in the OSI is making a power play for that position with a new type of infiltration agent - one that is completely obedient and robotic. Can a soulless machine that wears Steve Austin's very face make the Six Million Dollar Man obsolete? For the 1st Time EVER! Fan favorite toy-line character Maskatron makes his Six Million Dollar Man debut and becomes a part of the classic television series mythology with a violent and terrifying purpose. And as Steve's world is threatened from within, his very actions unknowingly release an alien menace upon an unsuspecting world. Classic action, powerful science fiction, and a cast of characters from one of television's most original series combine to make The Six Million Dollar Man: Season 6 a must have for comic fans!

Compliments:
- True to the franchise
- Art is beautiful
- love knowing that a new generation will experience this character

Needs Improvement:

1. Some anachronisms is the book.  Here is what Goldman's secretary is wearing on page 4

Compare that to what they really wore in the 70's.

On the same page, Steve Austin recommends Goldman gets some sushi, when in those days, they liked Steak or ate at Red Lobster still considered a high end restaurant in those days.   The book refers to the Russians instead of the Soviets. Is this going to be a period piece or is this set in the modern days?

2. Dialogue is very wooden.  This is a problem for a lot of Dynamite's books.  Dynamite's entertainment is very wholesome which separates itself from a lot of publishers.  But I have no idea who these characters are nor does this presentation intrigue me further about them.

Both Goldman and Steve Austin have a lot of history.  There is a lot to explore with these characters potentially.  Say what you want about Kevin Smith's writing and I am not a big fan, but his characters have a point of view, goals motivations and conflicts.

3.  The Plot is a bit convoluted.   Having spent some time in technology and defense industry, these guys do not make these machines to replace humanity.  Also we are in the heart of the Cold War.  These characters are products of that era.  Here is where Frank Miller's Robocop, Battlestar Galactica and Tom Wolfe's Right Stuff intersect.

I enjoyed it!

No Nudity, some fighting violence

Get Black and Blue

Black and Blue, a graphic novel by Diami Virgilio and Mark Cage, is a coming of age story set cross roads of the streets of the Bronx and the Las Vegas Octagon of Mixed Martial Arts.

The story begins in Las Vegas with the two fighters engaged bloody hand to hand combat.  I have read all four chapters.  It is all combat.  There is Violence, Mystery and Sex in just about every page of this book.  Mark Cage has chosen to illustrate this book in manner the way a prison artist, a detention junkie, an addict slacker or street derelict would giving the story authenticity and legitimacy.

I am not going to spoil this book.  I do recommend that you read it and buy it.  And here's why.  Diami Virgilio's writing is very good.  He understands the Aristotelian dramatic structure handed down to us from the ancients and practiced to this day by the likes of JJ Abrams and the boys.

Diami Virgilio does not write to be politically correct.  He writes to be real describing what it's like to grow up in the Section 8 world of the Bronx and yes, it does suck.  But he writes from the heart too.  Our hero gets punched in the heart - not from a physical body blow, but one of those punches from the meanest MMA fighters called LIFE.  But Diami Virgilio also does something at the end of each chapter that make you want to know the rest of this story.  He throws in twist that is like reacting to a baby with a live hand grenade.  You want to know what happens next.

As I mentioned, Mark Cage's illustrations are authentic to the street and the first four frames of Chapter Three were in my opinion the best.  He does some things in Chapter One that are clever.  His style is solid though I do think the characters sometimes look similar at least in the beginning they do.  I do wish the framing particularly in the fight scenes were more creative.  I understand that Mr. Cage was a London MMA fighter.  So I am looking forward to more installments.

This is a really good book.  It's cheap.  The first chapter is free.  The next three chapters are a buck a piece.  Check it out it is an insight into the mind of Diami Vigrilio and into the soul of Mark Cage.

For more information
http://www.mmacomic.com/index.html
Social Media:
https://twitter.com/MarkBlackBlue
https://twitter.com/BLACK_and_BLUE

Submitted!

I submitted our graphic novel to the following publishers:

Image

Arcana

Avatar

Top Shelf Comix

SLG Comics

Action Lab

Acacus Comics

12 gauge

Off Shott Comics

NBM Publishing

Zeta Comics

Angry viking Press

215 ink

Ape Entertainment

Champion

Devil’s Due Digital

We got our first pro-forma response letter. It reads:

From: “Submissions@ape-entertainment.com”

To: XXXXXX@yahoo.com

Sent: Saturday, July 6, 2013 11:59 PM

Subject: Re: The Kursk by Sasha Janowicz

Dear Creator-

Thank you for your submission to Ape Entertainment. Your submission has been received and will be reviewed. Should we find interest in pursuing a publication offer for your property we will contact you directly via e-mail or by phone.

Please be advised that our review process can take from 4 to 6 week to complete depending on the convention season or the current time of the year. Thank you very much for your interest in pursuing a publishing agreement with Ape Entertainment.

Thank you

The Ape Entertainment Team

——– Original Message ——–

Kursk Update

Author  Jane Monica Jones has broadcast 2 amazing videos about crowdfunding. 

She lists 3 rules: 1) start connecting 2) approach connectors to endorse and pass on your campaign 3) list of influencers start connecting:  I have contacted over 500 of my friends mostly family members, people in college and high school friends.  I have gotten some response. connectors to endorse: Don't really know what this means but I suspect it means get a hold of comic book reviewers and enthusiasts and get them to look at my book  list of influencers: I emailed the following people:

1.  Brian White - web content producer for KVOA
2. Craig Anderson Arizona Republic
3. Betty Beard - freelance reporter
4. Peter Corbett - Arizona Republic
5. David Morgan - Sierra Vista
6. Christina Leanard - Arizona Republic
7. Cecilia Chan - Arizona Republic
8. Carmen Duarte -
9. Andy Kavetz - Freelance Reporter Illinois
10. Jimmy Lovaas - Freelance Reporter Seattle
11. Editor, Eloy Enterprise
12. April Madison - KGUN 9
13. Obi Wan Kenobi - KNST
14. Jennifer Marries KOLD 13
15. Jenna Busch - ThinkHero.TV
16. Erin Christensen KGUN 9
17. Quinn Schuler - TV Minneapolis
18. Naomi Pescovitz - TV
19. Paul Westcott- White House Brief

Kim McLaughlin a Social media strategist helping established brands engage & retain consumers with Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn has been helping me too. She advises the following:

"There's no magic bullet when it comes to success on social media James. You have to simply invest the time and the money (or time in lieu  of money.) 

Because you're creating a person brand, I'd advise you start working your twitter community more. Much much more. And follow James. Follow others. 

Every single day, log in and follow about 15 people. Careful here - if twitter feels you're 'aggressively following', they'll suspend you account. At the end of the month, unfollow those who haven't' followed back (not at once though b/c now you'll be 'aggressively unfollowing' as per Twitter) and start again. 

If you have money, get some tweets sponsored. You can certainly buy follows to boost you social credibility, however, it's easy enough for folks to figure that out and engaging robots will only get you so far. In the meantime, work with a freelance PR agent who can get you a bit of press and start building relationships with local media folks so they turn to you for commentary. Direct everybody to you social media feeds." I also contacted a few local publicists too: more to follow

    

The Kursk Sails Again

Draft Cover Art
provided by  Sławomir Nietupski

Tucson, Arizona – July 4, 2013 – The Russian submarine, K-141, the Kursk sunk in the Barents Sea 13 years ago in a mysterious accident in August 12, 2000.  But with the help of awarding winning Australian playwright Sasha Janowicz, illustrator Andrea Montano and film producer James A. Bretney, The Kursk Sails Again in a new graphic novel: The Kursk.

Bretney is raising money on IndieGoGo to make his dream a reality.  “I invite you to discover a new world, world of intrigue and honor, of danger and mystery.  By donating to our campaign, I guarantee you will have done good thing.  You will reinforce the health of your community and the world that is only good by the results of good men.”

Illustrations by Andrea Montano

Bretney is trying again after his campaign on Kickstarter failed. "I did not know what I was doing.  Failure can be a generous teacher.  But we are not quitting on the Kursk," says Bretney.    Bretney is revising his expectations.  His Kickstarter campaign was $ 2,500.  On IndieGoGo, Bretney hopes to raise just over $ 500.    “We are raising less not that we don't need less but because we have to start small.  I have 45 days to raise 500.  It works out to about $ 11 a day. “  IndieGoGo offers a flexible funding format where if project managers fall short of our goal they still get the money.  Kickstarter is all or nothing.

With collaboration with the author,
illustrator Andrea Montano designs
the characters of the novel

Actress Evelyne Bronwyn Werzowa raised over $ 30,000 from her crowdfunding campaign or $ 1,000 a day.  Her advice to Bretney was "just bug every body." Bretney responds , "That is what I am doing."

Bretney himself has paid for five pages out of his own pocket.  "We are building a fan base one fan at a time from our friends. To get our art out there. Once its out there strangers have joined us and are waiting to see what we come up with next."

Front man James A. Bretney. says “ I once asked a stranger what he felt when he saw someone die.  He said that though he did not know the man, he felt like he lost something great and valuable that he was not aware he had.” 

Author Sasha Janowicz spent 6 years researching the story by interviewing members of the very secretive Russian Navy. Sasha Janowicz’s play won the 2007 Bell Award for Best New Play, the Matilda award three times for Best New Australian Play, Best Direction, and Best Independent Production, Matilda Awards.  

Like a director's story boards, here
Andrea Montano provides Sasha
Janowicz a rough visualization
before proceeding to the finalized frames

Bretney continues, “This is a good story.  It raises questions about what really happened and the people deserve answers.  The families of those who died deserve answers to what happened and how their loved ones lived and died.”

Bretney hopes the visual medium of the graphic novel will resonate with younger viewers.  “Andrea Montano is in her twenties.  She is very young.  She has a youthful vitality in her portfolio.  She handles color and lighting very well.”  Comics books are a billion dollar market with more users not only going to the comic book stores but downloading them from websites and smart phones. 

The art of comic book making is a process.  Andrea Montano draws rough thumbnail sketches throughout the script. Sasha Janowicz approves each thumb then Andrea Montano proceeds with each frame. Image Comics requires 5 pages to pitch.  The play is 60 pages -  55 pages to go.  

“We want to bring this story to a world stage.”

To Donate to this campaign:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-the-kursk-sail-again/x/268132?c=home

For more information on this:

http://thekursk.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kursk-by-Sasha-Janowicz/444388175655458

TAGS:

The Kursk, Sasha Janowicz, Submarine, Russian Submarine, Russian Navy, Soviet Navy, Spies, James A. Bretney, Jimbo, Airborne Productions, Andrea Montano, Matilda award, Bell Award, Best New Australian Play, Best Direction, Best Independent, Best New Play, Graphic Novel,

The Kursk Sails Again

The Kursk

Tucson, Arizona – May 12, 2013 – The Submarine, The Kursk Sails Again.  The Russian submarine, K-141, the Kursk sunk in the Barents Sea 13 years ago in a mysterious accident in August 12, 2000.  But with the help of awarding winning Australian playwright Sasha Janowicz, illustrator Andrea Montano and film producer James A. Bretney, The Kursk Sails Again in a new graphic novel: The Kursk.

Andrea Montano's Art

Bretney is raising money on Kickstarter to make his dream a reality.  “I invite you to discover a new world, world of intrigue and honor, of danger and mystery.  By donating to our campaign, I guarantee you will have done good thing.  You will reinforce the health of your community and the world that is only good by the results of good men.”

Playwright Sasha Janowicz

“Sasha’s play won the 2007 Bell Award for Best New Play, the Matilda award three times for Best New Australian Play, Best Direction, and Best Independent Production, Matilda Awards,” said front man James A. Bretney.  “It is a good story about bravery and courage and it raises questions about what really happened and the people deserve answers.  The families of those who died deserve answers to what happened and how their loved ones lived and died.”

Bretney hopes the visual medium of the graphic novel will resonate with younger viewers.  “Andrea Montano is in her twenties.  She is very young.  She has a youthful vitality in her portfolio.  She handles color and lighting very well.  Comics books are a billion dollar market with more users not only going to the comic book stores but downloading them from websites and smart phones.  We want to bring this story to a world stage.”

To Donate to this campaign:

Mayday

Mayday

I.

Mission time:  Day 45, 0700 hours. The spaceship "SS Steel Joseph" is exploring the outer reaches of Alpha Centauri.

Inside the Captain's quarters, the Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander  Theodore Black meets with the Skipper of the boat - Captain Thomas Pope.  

"So there it is.  No re-supply.  Where's the justice in that?" Pope says.

"There is no god, therefore there is no re-supply."  Seeing his joke, did not go over well, Black replies, "The Centre says, 'It's simply not possible.' At least not for a few days."

"They said that three days ago."

"We are behind schedule seven days, Skipper.  But they have emphasized with great emphasis the importance of the information you are sending back Captain."

"I will talk to them.  Is that it then, Ted?"  The Captain gets up

"No sir."  Black pulls out a manila folder.  "There's the Angel affair."

"We have been over this Commander."

"Sir, its a question of discipline.  We cannot have technicians missing movement especially in essential missions such as these.  Justice must be swift to be effective."

"This will be the last time.  We discuss this  Lieutenant Commander.  Pending a full Medical review, Space Technician Michael Angelides is on rear detachment at Roosevelt Flats."

"But he has no more leave saved up."

"No one in his chain of command supports your prosecution of Angelides.  Let me ask you something.  Angelides is a propulsion mechanic.  Do you want to entrust the ship's propulsion to twenty two year old kid who delivered his still son?  Do not bring this up again.  That is an order, do you understand Lieutenant Commander Black?"

II.

1000 hours.  Black enters the bridge.  

The Helio Physics Officer Ensign Bartholew Childers reports, "It's interspace phenomena that we do not have enough data to assess the danger."

"What is it?"  Black demands.

"As I was explaining to the Captain, Commander, the sensors are picking up highly magnetized particle nebula."

"Your science experiment have to do with our mission.  Proceed on present course."

The Chief of the Boat, a salty man vested into middle aged named Salvador Pike snapped, "That is not your decision."

Captain Pope interjects, "This particle nebula will intercept our current heading for Alpha Centauri Beta B."

Childers states, "We may have to abort the mission to avoid the particle nebula."

"We can't just wait it out?"

The Captain states flatly. "You know our supply situation better than any of us.  The Wilson Station 4 is 2 parsecs away.  It would take months to reach us."

"The Scientific consensus states Particle Nebulas will in no way harm satellites. It will not harm us especially with its double hull construction.  If we abort this mission the Centre will want more than answers.  We must proceed forward." 

Childers interrupted, "So what happened to the crew of the Stanislaw?"

"Do you always coat insubordination Ensign Childers with oddball conspiracy theories or is this improvised ejaculation a special indulgence?"

"That's enough!" Captain Pope bellows.  "The Uncle Joe is a good ship."  The words 'good ship' alarm the men on the bridge. "The Centre wants results."  The Captain eyes Black speciously.  "Compartment 9, ready the engines on course heading "227 degrees, angle 45 and sustain that heading at point double six parsecs at point sub-warp six."

The Helmsman, Petty Officer Third Class Sigmund Charon responds, "heading "227 degrees, angle 45 copy."

Over the intercom, Lieutenant Gaius Wheeler reports back, "Engines at point sub-warp six in 5, 4, 3, 2 . . . "

Collision.

The collision rattles the ship sending smoke on the bridge.  The Chief of the Boat takes over firefight responsibilities, he and two technicians squelch the fire.

Pope: "Charon reverse 180 degrees angle 225."

A second collision.

The intercom reports, "Damage to reactor one.  Shutting rector one down."

A third collision knocks out Commander Black.

III.

Black out.

Black wakes up in the infirmary.  He sees a pistol on the table.  Then the medic, Petty Officer Second Class Donald Reed patches him up.

"XO, you have  a mild concussion."

"Where are we?  Where is everyone?"

"You have been out for a few days."

"Answer my question Petty Officer!"

Petty Officer Second Class Donald Reed looks at the the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black.  Then Captain Pope's voice comes over the intercom, "Petty Officer Reed, we need you in the bridge."

"Excuse me Commander."

The XO, Lieutenant Commander Black sees the pistol is no longer there.  He waits and waits but the doctor doesn't come back.  He steps out of the infirmary and searches the ship.  No one is onboard. Every compartment he enters he sees the pistol and when he confirms its there, it's gone.  He tries hailing Headquarters dubbed "the Centre."  No luck.  He tries to control the ship by himself but the meteors have damaged the thrusters. The ship is adrift.

He hears a voice of some of the crew in whispers.  The Captain calls the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black and asks for a report over the intercom.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black checks in but the Captain can't hear him report.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black sees the gun.  This time he picks it up.

He hears the InterSat radio break squelch and he moves to the communications console.  The SS Vladimir is hailing.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black returns the greeting.  But the Vladimir can't hear him but they report that she and the SS Catherine Parr are 0.1 parsecs away and closing to the Steel Joseph's Keplar coordinates.  He is happy then a hand grasps his shoulder, firm and hard.  He turns and a corpse falls at his feet.  It is the emaciated corpse of the Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Pike.  He cannot recognize the corpse except by his nameplate.  

He looks across the bridge and the technicians at the stations are all dead much by the same means.  He screams and then he hears the Captain hailing him on the intercom.  The Captain is yelling him and telling he has to get a hold of himself.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black asks the Captain if he can hear him.  He says of course, he can hear him.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black asks what happened to the crew and why are they all dead, what did they die of?  The Captain refutes that and that they are all fine and healthy.  When the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black looks again, the corpses are gone.  He asks where are the men?  The Captain says they are all in the ward room celebrating their scientific conquest and invites him to join them.

The XO, Lieutenant Commander Black enters the ward room and sure enough the crew is there gorging itself on food and drink.  Everyone appears in good spirits and happy.  The captain congratulates the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black and informs him that he is recommending for a commendation and early promotion for recommending his bold action.  Hr eats and enjoys himself and everyone is toasting to him and back slapping him.  He says weakly that he is just happy to see the crew, alive and happy.  Then he sees the medic  eat raw meat like a dog.  Then men start fighting amongst themselves for portions.  The food is the corpse of the young ensign.  The crew are no longer healthy men anymore but zombie starving to death.  He shoots his pistol at them.  After 3 shots, they are all dead.  He leaves the ward room and hears.  "We're coming to get you. We're coming to get you."

Finally he sees with open eyes.  The crew all of the crew is dead and died at their battle stations having starved to death.  He sees the air lock.  Light.

IV.

The Captain of the Vladimir asks the investigating officer what happened to the Steel Joseph.  The Investigating Officer states that the ship had been adrift for 3 years having been damaged by meteors from the Storm Nebula.  Without the ability to move or communicate, with the crew died of starvation.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black came out of a coma and shot himself.

The Captain of the Vladimir tells him to finish his report and have it on his desk by close of business today.

Call Me Robby

Preface:  I have written a short story about some things I remember during the war. Some of it is fictionalized but most of it is true. Some of it is very obscene.

Call Me Robby.  Robby Brantly.

One alibi, don't believe everything I say.  I am a liar.  What I say, I say for me.  Language gets me what I want.  That's what it was invented.   The sooner you learn that . . .

The first time I pointed shot a man was on coming off Irish and into the MSR into the Green Zone.  I hated those convoys.  Small and light package, always carrying some VIP.  Why don't you just take a chopper and spare us the trouble?  Anyway, we are out there and this guy comes into our convoy.  The first shot was into the ground.  He stopped cold.  The guy was older, lumpy, mustache, not an engineer or lawyer.  I could see him pucker up and quiver.  There must have been 20 other people in the van he was driving.  We have the right way pal.  I felt two things - power and guilt.  Guilt because I was destroying something beautiful, the way a rose or a sunset and I felt power.  There's nothing like dominating a man in the way prisoner rapes a man in jail or the way a man smears his dog's nose in the filth and the excreta that came from his bowels.  Those two emotions never leave you.  You can amplify the one and filter the other but you always feel both.

We had this puppy that my sergeant was sweet one.  We would feed it.  He was cute a thing.  He had white fur, fluffy, big feet was going to be a big dog someday.  Fatso, he would always feed it. I forgot what Fatso called it.   Didn't matter how many times I kicked it.  I only kicked it once.    That dog loved me.  I kept looking at this dog and thinking, if you were born in the Colorado, or Georgia or even my home of Rock Hill, South Carolina, you would have had a chance.  It's the first time I ever wanted something that was born over here to be over there.  First Sergeant wanted all the dogs gone.  He said they carried diseases.  Top detailed the two cooks to kill all animals or pets that we had.  But I didn't want Van Damme to kill my dog.  So I took the dog outside the compound away toward the main gate.  The first shot isn't kill him.  It wounded him.  I finished him off with a rock.  It took a couple of time, but he was dead.

There's really only two things I am good at.  I am good with women.  It's really not that hard, once you do it as long as I have and I have been doing it for a while.  Myrtle Beach is an easy place to get laid. And I was very young the first time - too young.  But to be honest with you.  I like men.  I like being with another man.  I like both giving and receiving.  It's different but when you have a man in your mouth.  He is receiving pleasure because you are giving it to him.  He is giving the best parts of him to you and you have a position of trust.  I don't tell many people about that part of me.  I have a reputation to maintain.  What would Janice think?  And Amanda?  And Christine?  And Julie?  But I said it, if you believe it.

It's like this.  I like to cuddle with these guys after I am done.  But I don't want them over.  I usually go to their house or they come and they go.  No sleep overs.  I just don't want to deal with it.  A woman she can sleep over if she wants to and if they are with me you better believe they want to.

You now I watched a lot of porn there.  I shared a hooch with Fatso before the Fat piece of garbage choked me.  I should have killed him when I had the chance.  When I did have some privacy.  I'd watch a lot of gang bangs.  Before she went to jail this pornographic actress, Paula Denton, held the record of most guys ejaculating inside her.  I wish I could have been there for that.  Sometimes I wish I was that pornographic actress taking in all that filth my soul commingling with all of theirs.  And I would be there acting, "Yes!  Yes!  Give it to me."

Don't judge me.  I saw a lot strange things over there.  I remember walking into the Motor Pool.  Everyone in the motor pool lived in a connex.  Don't ask me why they wanted to live there.  Saddam built these stone palaces and these guys are all living in an open bay and every one o them has their lap tops out either looking at porn.  Jared showed me a woman a pool sucking off a dog.  I might be gay sometimes but I have my limits.  Jared's boss Amos is talking to his wife not five feet away.  I wonder why Jared is not talking to his wife.  I guess if he caught her in bed with Weeblo, I wouldn't call her either.  I am just glad he hasn't caught me.

I am not very good at fighting but the idea of dying especially having my neck opened up with a blunt knife keeps me up late at night.  You know I have been criss crossing being home and being over there and back and forth, I loose my sense of what is real.  I make love to Janice.  I pound Amanda. have sex with Julie and I let Christine take me but I make love with Janice.  She loves me.  She is the only one that writes to me and sends me things.  Where was I?

A lot of times we would run out to these outposts to re-supply the guys and the guys would lets alone a lot.  You would think that would be a good thing to have your freedom but I am 6'4 blonde 24 year old who weighs maybe 180 lbs?  I haven't been running.  So we see these guys hanging out at the hajji shops.  I don't know if they are one of them has a cellphone with my number on it.  One thing I do know, they won't have the jump on me so I spray the hajji shop.

Jared says to me, "Are you ok Robby?"

"I felt threatened."  I told him.

It happened so many times he stopped asking.  This was long after Fatso left.  He couldn't soldier anymore.  Not after his wife left him.  You know he got me promoted.  This was after he found out about me and his old lady.  Get off my case will you?  This was before they were married.  Fatso wouldn't have tolerated that of course, he wasn't afraid to die.

Don't ask me how this happened but I running a patrol right before 15 minutes curfew.  I see this Muslim bitch and her kid.  She is talking trash and I am talking back to her.  I can't understand her and she me.  Suddenly I have to equalize this conversation so I pull out my 45 and level it to her head.  She must be about twenty feet away from me.  She is holding her kid's hand.  She just wouldn't shut up and she shouldn't have been on the street.  So I shoot her.  Bitch that she was.  I am a horrible shot but this bullet gets her between the eyes.  Her kid's crying.  He's holding his mother.  Blood is bleeding out her mouth.  I think she is cursing me in Persian.  Go figure, the Arabs have to speak Persian to let a real insult go.  This kid's a problem.  I don't need any witnesses so I take care of him too.

The guys aren't going to rat me out.  I have seen them do a lot worse.  But you know?  It doesn't matter how much bonus money they offer me, like it matters all of it is gone and gone within weeks of me having it, sooner or later, my number will come up.  So I got out.  I got out on a medical, but whatever.  I get a check, drugs (some of it legal - and free to me) some of it not which I sell.  I am still young - a kid at 33.  I am on that street next to the mosque and the kid and his Mom are both bleeding out and I am alone.  I have never been alone - not in a combat zone.  The kid gets up and I empty my mag into the kid.  Pieces of him are ripped away by the metal like a chainsaw to a teddy bear.  Then his bitch Muslim mother bloody chador and all gets up starts walking toward me.  I drop my 45 and pick up my M4 slung over my shoulder but it jams.  I have beat this thing with my bare hands.  She she is hissing and growling at me snapping at me and I am basing her in the face and choking her so that she turns blue.  Only its not that Muslim bitch, it's Janice.  I have woken up in my bed next to Janice and she has turned blue and isn't moving.

She coughs.

She doesn't sleep over anymore.  No one does its just me.  Me and my drugs, my Jim Bean and my check. Call me Robby and I am liar.